Thursday, 28 November 2013

General Knowledge and Current Affairs Update - 1 India's GDP to grow at 5.4% in Q2 of FY'14: Assocham
i. A day ahead of the announcement of GDP figure for the July-September quarter of the current fiscal, industry body Assocham has pegged the country's growth at 5.4 per cent for the period on improved agricultural output.
ii. "Growth would touch 5.4 per cent in the second quarter owing to a good monsoon and resultant better performance of farm sector, thereby propelling the industry and services performance in the current fiscal," Assocham said.
iii. According to a study by Assocham, the agriculture sector is likely to grow at 4.25 per cent, whereas the industry and services sectors are expected to register 3 per cent and 7 per cent growth, respectively, during the period under review.

General Knowledge and Current Affairs Update - 2NALCO Received EEPC Export Award for 2011-12
i. National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) on 22 November 2013 received the EEPC (Engineering Export Promotion Council, Eastern Region)’s Gold Trophy.
ii. NALCO has bagged the EEPC Gold Trophy, as Top Exporter in the Large Enterprise Category, for its outstanding export performance during the year 2011-12.
iii. National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is a Navratna PSU and India’s leading manufacturer-exporter of alumina and aluminium.
iv. During the financial year 2011-12, NALCO has achieved sales turnover of 6927 crore Rupees, including the export earnings of 2569 crore Rupees.

General Knowledge and Current Affairs Update - 3

Narendra Modi in Time magazine’s Person of the Year shortlist
i. BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is among Time magazine’s shortlisted candidates for its ‘Person of the Year’ title and has emerged as an early favourite among the readers in an online poll.
ii. Time has shortlisted 42 global leaders, entrepreneurs and celebrities for its ‘Person of the Year 2013’ and will announce the winner next month.
iii. Other candidates in fray are Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, US President Barack Obama, Pakistani teenage education activist Malala Yousafzai, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and even the new heir to the British throne Prince George.

General Knowledge and Current Affairs Update - 4

India donates 2,500 tonnes of wheat as food aid to Yemen
i. India has donated 2,500 metric tonnes of wheat worth USD 2 million as food assistance to the troubled Gulf state of Yemen.
ii. In response to an appeal by the United Nations for humanitarian assistance, the Indian government has extended food assistance in the form of around 2,500 metric tonnes of wheat valued at around USD 2 million to the people of Yemen, a statement issued by the Indian embassy in Yemeni capital of Sana'a said.
iii. The assistance is channelised through the World Food Programme (WFP) and the first consignment has arrived at the Hodeidah Port.
iv. Yemeni first Deputy Minister said that "this donation marks yet another milestone in the long and historic relationship between Yemen and India."

General Knowledge and Current Affairs Update - 5

Cyclone Helen Struck Andhra Pradesh Coast
i. The Cyclonic storm Helen on 22 November 2013 struck Andhra Pradesh coast near Machilipatnam, triggering heavy rains and strong gales, killing eleven people and causing massive damage to the crops in the coastal region.
ii. Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari and Guntur districts and part of Krishna district were the worst affected due to the cyclone. The cyclone also brought heavy to very heavy rains in the Krishna district and its nearby districts.

General Knowledge and Current Affairs Update - 6

FIR against Tarun Tejpal in sexual assault cas
i. Goa Police on Friday filed an FIR against Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal, who has been accused by a woman journalist colleague of sexual assault during an event here about 10 days ago.
ii. Deputy Inspector General of Police O P Mishra said the FIR has been filed while DGP Kishan Kumar said the crime branch could send a team of officials to Delhi for further investigation.
iii. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had ordered a preliminary inquiry into the allegations by the girl that she was sexually abused by Tejpal during an event in Goa.
iv. The alleged incident happened in a lift in a five star hotel in Goa about 10 days ago.
v. Tejpal had written to Tehelka's Managing Editor, saying he was "recusing" from work for 6 months admitting to "bad lapse of judgement".

General Knowledge and Current Affairs Update - 7

Indian Senior Women Hockey Team Coach Inderjit Singh Gill Died
i. India's senior women's hockey team coach Inderjit Singh Gill passed away in a fatal road accident near Sangrur in Punjab on 20 November 2013. Gill died at the age of 59. He was a Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach.

About Inderjit Singh Gill
i. Inderjit Singh Gill, Coach of Sports Authority of India who did his NIS Diploma of Coaching in 1979 started his coaching career in 1986 and was working with the Junior & Senior Women hockey teams since 1999.
ii. He was also part of the Coaching staff of the Senior Women Team that won Silver medal at the 3rd Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2013 in Japan.

General Knowledge and Current Affairs Update - 8

India and Russia decided to held a Joint Air Force Exercise in 2014
i. India and Russia on 18 November 2013 agreed to expand the range of strategic partnership in a significant manner in Moscow.
ii. The two countries will also hold a Joint Air Force Level exercise for the first time in 2014.
iii. This decision was taken by the two countries within two days after commissioning of INS Vikramadatya into Indian Navy.
iv. This decision was taken by the two countries within two days after commissioning of INS Vikramadatya into Indian Navy.